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Today’s best stories
In a few hours, millions of Americans will turn their heads to the sky to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse. The moon will begin to obscure the sun a little before 1:30 p.m. Central Time in Eagle Pass, Texas. The moon will then move across the country passing through Maine. Cities and counties across the United States hold watch parties and celebrations for the event. But weather in parts of the United States could play a role in the eclipse’s visibility.
TOPSHOT – Shadows form on the ground as the moon moves in front of the sun during a rare ring-of-fire solar eclipse in Singapore on December 26, 2019.
LOUIS KWOK/AFP via Getty Images
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LOUIS KWOK/AFP via Getty Images
TOPSHOT – Shadows form on the ground as the moon moves in front of the sun during a rare ring-of-fire solar eclipse in Singapore on December 26, 2019.
LOUIS KWOK/AFP via Getty Images
- Fortunately, it seems that the sky is clearer than expected, Shelly Brisbin explains on First. A big problem, however, could be traffic, as people drive into town to find the best spot for the eclipse. Some cities have even declared disaster zones to facilitate the guidance of car flows.
- If you want to follow eclipse coverage today, check out our live blog. It’s full of eclipse viewing tips for those who need last-minute advice on where to get glasses and how to take the best photos. The live blog will also be updated with unforgettable photos, stories and features from across NPR as the celestial event begins.
The Department of Education has released new proposals that could eliminate student debt for millions of Americans.. The new proposals focus on reducing or eliminating accrued interest. The proposal would waive $20,000 in interest for any borrower, regardless of income. It would also allow low- and middle-income borrowers to have all their interest forgiven.
- Millions of borrowers now owe more money than they originally took out.explains NPR’s Sequoia Carrillo on First. This new proposal hopes to solve this problem. The Biden administration is using a process called “negotiated rulemaking” to ensure the proposal can survive legal challenges this time around. The negotiated rulemaking process is a slower and much more traditional route to changing higher education policy. The stakes for passing student debt relief are high for the administration, Carrillo says, because student loan borrowers are a fairly young group, which is a key demographic the president hopes to keep in his corner.
It has been six months since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7., when 1,200 people were killed by Hamas, according to the Israeli government. More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, making it the deadliest period of violence in Israeli-Palestinian history. Ceasefire negotiations failed to bring about a new pause in fighting or reach a hostage exchange deal for the remaining hostages taken by Hamas. Over the weekend, Israel withdrew a significant number of its troops from the southern city of Khan Younis. And there has been a significant increase in the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza.
- The increase in aid and troop withdrawal comes after President Biden called on Israel to do more to ease the suffering in Gaza. But yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stated goal of eliminating Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, including in Rafah, where the majority of the displaced population lives in deplorable conditions. The United States continues to put heavy pressure on Israel to reach some sort of agreement with Hamas. But Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire, and Netanyahu has repeatedly said he would agree to only a six-week pause in fighting.
Life advice
THE Sibling Science is a new series exploring how our brothers and sisters can influence us, from our money and our mental health to our very molecules. We will share these stories over the coming weeks.
Lily Padula for NPR
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Lily Padula for NPR
THE Sibling Science is a new series exploring how our brothers and sisters can influence us, from our money and our mental health to our very molecules. We will share these stories over the coming weeks.
Lily Padula for NPR
Blended families are common in pop culture. But in real life, the stepfamily experience usually falls somewhere in between. Cinderella And The Brady Bunch. When it comes to half-sibling relationships, one thing is almost always true: It takes work to get along. Here are some science-backed tips for blended families:
- It takes time to get used to big changes, especially for children. Don’t try to rush things.
- Create new family rituals can help foster a bond. At the same time, it’s important not to force a connection or try to “normalize” things if someone isn’t ready.
- Preserve one-on-one time with your biological child to help them feel safe in unfamiliar territory. And leave the discipline to the biological parent until you have established a caring and trusting relationship with your stepchild.
Behind the story
New Jersey is known as the restaurant capital of the world. But over the past decade, about 150 restaurants have closed in the state. Those who remain have made big changes to survive.
Peter Sedereas
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Peter Sedereas
New Jersey is known as the restaurant capital of the world. But over the past decade, about 150 restaurants have closed in the state. Those who remain have made big changes to survive.
Peter Sedereas
I grew up in New Jersey, so naturally, I love dinner parties. New Jersey is considered the restaurant capital of the world. And Peter Sedereas, head of an unofficial coalition of New Jersey restaurants and owner of the Townsquare Diner in Wharton, New Jersey, estimates there are about 450 diners in the state.
Restaurants are closing across the country. When the restaurant across the street from my apartment in Maryland suddenly closed its doors to be replaced by an apartment building, I began to wonder how diners were doing in my home state.
About 150 restaurants have closed in New Jersey over the past decade. And it’s not just because of the pandemic. Most New Jersey diners are family businesses, and many members of the next generation are not interested in taking over their family’s restaurant.
When I spoke to Peter Sedereas for that Morning edition story, he said the diners are always in the best places. He receives at least one offer per month to buy his restaurant.
As a diner lover, this eased my mind to see and hear that people still go to restaurants and that Sedereas’ business is doing better than 20 years ago. Even though diners close and others change a lot, he says he doesn’t see diners leaving New Jersey. And I don’t think New Jerseyans’ passion for dining will ever go away.
Before you leave
Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, will report its second quarter results on August 16, 2022.
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
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ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, will report its second quarter results on August 16, 2022.
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
- Customers who purchased certain “weighted products” and bagged citrus fruits at Walmart stores for the past six years could be eligible for cash payments, thanks to a $45 million class-action lawsuit.
- Smooth payment methods like Apple or Google Pay could make you spend more money.
- ABBA’s “Waterloo” shot to the top of the charts when it was released 50 years ago. On its 50th anniversary, fans gathered in England, Sweden and beyond to celebrate the song that put the Swedish supergroup on the map.
This newsletter was published by Treye Green. Anandita Bhalerao contributed.
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